Junnosuke Taguchi (ex KAT-TUN) has signed a two year contract with Universal Music Japan's label Universal J. He will be making his major debut with the single "Connect" on April 5.

Taguchi left KAT-TUN in March 2016 and released his first solo single "HERO" from an indie label in November.

On his major debut, Taguchi commented, "Thanks to my fans and everyone concerned, I was able to sign with a secure partner, Universal Music. From now on, with my main focus on my new music, I hope to widen my capacity as actor, model, and entertainer."

The band made their major debut with the mini album "GIRLFRIEND" on April 12, 2006. "Kougen" will be released on the anniversary of their major debut, and it will be their first album since Yuasa Shohei left the band last year.

The album's limited edition will come with a DVD containing documentary footage of the band's current tour "Band B no Subete 2016-2017" and live footage from "COUNTDOWN JAPAN 16/17".

"Iisuta" has already been chosen as a CM song for AEON's Spring campaign "Let's start Easter party!" and Kyary appears as its image character. Along with the title song, the single will also include "Todoke Punch", a CM song for glico's "Ice no Mi."

On the same day as "Iisuta" is being released, the live DVD/Blu-ray "KPP 5ive YEARS MONSTER WORLD TOUR 2016 in Nippon Budokan" is also being released. This DVD/Blu-ray features footage from her live concert in Nippon Budokan which was the last stage of her world tour in 2016.

BREAKERZ will release their new single "Yume Monogatari" on July 12th.

"Yume Monogatari" will be used as the theme song for the TV anime "Detective Conan" this summer. The coupling track will be "devil or angel?" an unreleased song that was written at the time of their debut album "BREAKERZ" which was released 10 years ago.

The single will be released in four different versions: Limited Edition A (CD + DVD), Limited Edition B (CD + Photo Book), Regular Edition (CD only), and a Detective Conan Edition. The Regular Edition will include an extra song "THE TRAIN'S GONE, , , - Acoustic Version" and the Detective Conan Edition will come with a TV length version of "Yume Monogatari" and a live track of "Ikusen no Meikyuu de Ikusen no Nazo wo Toite".

The first one is titled "Utaou", and it will be out on June 21st. A week later, on June 28th, the second CD called "4LOVE" will be released.

Yuzu has been writing new songs since the beginning of the year. The concept of "Utaou" is "acoustic". It will include "Canaria" which is the theme song for NTV's "NEWS ZERO". It will also contain "Tatta" the 2017 theme song for Fuji TV's variety show "Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!".

Meanwhile, "4LOVE" will come with "Ai Koso", which is the CM song for Itoen's "Oi Ocha".

Mr. Children will be releasing their new single, "himawari" on July 26th.

This is the second single to commemorate their 25th anniversary.

"himawari" will be the theme song for the upcoming film "Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai" which will premiere on July 28th.

A limited edition will come with a DVD containing documentary footage about the making of "himawari" as well as their live performance of the band's first single, "Kimi ga Ita Natsu" which they performed at Nagoya Century Hall on May 10th, their debut anniversary day.

Porno Graffitti will release their new album "Butterfly Effect" on October 25th.

The band's 11th original album will contain "THE DAY" which is the opening theme for the anime 'Boku no Hero Academia' as well as their singles "LiAR", "Masshiro na Hai Ni Naru Made, Moyashitsukuse", "King & Queen", and "Montage". Its limited edition will come with a bonus disc including audio tracks from their one-man live in Taiwan and a DVD including documentary footage and PVs for "LiAR', "Masshiro na Hai Ni Naru Made, Moyashitsukuse", and "Montage".

To coincide with the album's release. Porno Graffitti will hold a hall tour "15th Live Circuit" from November. They are scheduled to perform 39 shows from November 17th until March 20th of next year.

To mark 10 years since their debut, THE BAWDIES a 'Best Of' album "THIS IS THE BEST' on April 18th.

The album will be a two disc set of 37 songs ranging from their first indies album "YESTERDAY AND TODAY" released in 2006 up to their most recent album "NEW" along with some new songs. The "DELUXE EDITION" will come with a CD including rare tracks, a DVD with 25 music videos, a 7-inch analog including the band's oldest recording, "She Is My Baby" and a booklet.

On the anniversary of their major debut, April 22nd, THE BAWDIES will hold a special concert called, "Thank you for our Rock and Roll 2004-2018" at Shinkiba Studio Coast.

The title track is to commemorate her 10th anniversary since her debut. The single will also include "Unison" and "Force -Orchestra Version" which were theme songs to the drama "Doctor X - Gekai Daimon Michiko". The single will also come with a second disc containing live tracks from her 10th anniversary live. The single's limited edition comes with a DVD or Blu-ray with live footage of the same event.

Sandaime J Soul Brothers will release their new album "FUTURE" on June 6th.

This is their first album in two years and will be a 3-disc set including an album from Sandaime J Soul Brothers, and solo albums from Ryuji Imaichi and Hiroomi Tosaka. The Sandaime J Soul Brothers album will contain already released song such as "Welcome to TOKYO", "BRIGHT", "HAPPY", "J.S.B. DREAM", "J.S.B. LOVE", and "J.S.B. HAPPINESS" and several new songs.

Imaichi's solo album will contain already released songs "ONE DAY", "Angel" and "Thank You" along with the first recording of "Alter Ego". Tosaka's solo album will include "WASTED LOVE", "DIAMOND SUNSET", and "LUXE". Both solo albums will also have two new songs.

The album will be released in five types: 3CD + 4DVD, 3CD + 4Blu-ray, 3CD +3DVD, 3CD + 3Blu-ray, and 3CD.

The single will be available in both Ultra-Luxury Edition and Regular Edition. The Ultra-Luxury Edition will come with a photo book "Je t'aime - Eien ni-" and a DVD containing the PV and making of video as well as footage from the photo book shoot in Paris.

I guess since the wife, Juri Ueno has gone back to work, the husband thinks he should too.

Triceratops Sho Wada to begin solo activities

Sho Wada of Triceratops will be starting his solo activities.

The announcement came on August 4th via a video on the band's official website. He is currently working on an album in which all the songs will be written, produced, and performed by Wada. He will release a digital single "1975" ahead of the album.

In November, Wada will go on tour. He is also planning of performing by himself for this tour.

Noriyuki Makihara will release a new single, "Kioku" on October 10th. It's been over two years since his last single, "Riyuu" which was the theme song for the TV Asahi drama "Hajimemashite, Aishiteimasu". The new single will be used in a NIVEA CM starting next month. The single will come in an original version, strings version, and English version.

Kaela Kimura will release a mini-album entitled "?WHO?" on November 21st.

The album will have a total of five tracks including "Run to the Rainbow" which is the official song for 'JAL Honolulu Marathon 2018'. "Chiisana Eiyuu" which is the theme song for the animated film "Chiisana Eiyuu -Kani to Tamago to Toumei Ningen-".

Also in the five tracks is a new song "Color" written by Kimura and will be the theme song for the upcoming late night drama "Pretty ga Oosugiru". The album's limited edition will come with a DVD containing the PV for "Color".